Self-enclosed folding bed

ABSTRACT

A folding bed adapted to form a cabinet-like structure when folded and a bed when extended, including a pair of bedstead sections which are pivoted one to the other and which are arranged to form the cabinet-like structure, thereby using the same frame structure for both the extended bed configuration and the folded cabinet configuration. The bedstead sections constitute shallow box-like structures each supported by a leg structure pivoted thereto and both arranged to be displaced relative to each other and to the floor to facilitate handling of the bed.

United States lpatent n 1 llitennett Sept. 4, 11973 SELF-ENCLOSEDFOLDING BED [76] Inventor: Lawrence A. Bennett, 41 Vandry St.,

Lennoxville, Quebec, Canada [22] Filed: Apr. 3, i972 [2l] Appl. No.:240,662

{52] US. Cl 5/2, 5/6, 5/149 [51] Int. Cl. A47c 17/40 {58] Field atSearch 5/2, 3, 6, 149, I54

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,544,762 3/1951 LachridgeS/6 2,073,293 3/1937 Ybanez et al. 5/2 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS1,420,300 10/1965 France 5/3 Primary Examiner-Casmir A. NunbergAttorney-Pierre Lesperance [57] ABSTRACT A folding bed adapted to form acabinet like structure when folded and a bed when extended, including apair of bedstead sections which are pivoted one to the other and whichare arranged to form the cabinet-like structure, thereby using the sameframe structure for both the extended bed configuration and the foldedcabinet configuration. The bedstead sections constitute shallow box-likestructures each supported by a leg structure pivoted thereto and botharranged. to be displaced relative to each other and to the floor tofacilitate handling of the bed.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures SELF-ENCLOSED FOLlDllNG lllllllll) Thisinvention relates to a bed and, more particularly, to a folding bed ofthe type which is fully enclosed when in the folded bed configuration.

The utility of folding beds has been recognized since long and it wasfound desirable to fully enclose the folded bed for nice appearance andto minimize soilage and dust accumulation thereon. A folding bed of theabove type which has been proposed so far includes bedstead sectionspivoted one to another and folding into a cabinet enclosure framedseparately from the bedstead sections. Disadvantages result from suchcabinet-bed, since separate frames for the cabinet and the bed arerequired and a relatively heavier assembly is produced, which makes itdifficult to displace the folding bed for use at other locations.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a folding bed of theabove type which forms its own enclosure or in other words, which isself-enclosed when folded.

It is another general object of the invention to provide a folding bedof the above type whichcan be converted from an extended bedconfiguration to a folded cabinet configuration with a single framestructure producing both configurations.

it is a more specific object of the invention to provide a folding bedof the above type, wherein the bedstead elements thereof form acabinet-like enclosure when the bed is in folded configuration.

it is a further object of the invention to provide a folding bed of theabove type, wherein one leg struc ture at the free end of one bedsteadsection is constructed and arranged to form a-displaceable support forthat free end to facilitate opening of the bed.

The invention will now be described in detail with reference to apreferred embodiment thereof which is illustrated, by way of exampleonly, in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a self-enclosed folding bed according tothe invention, shown in closed or folded position;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are side and front elevation views re spectively of thefolded bed shown in H6. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the folding bed illustrating the openingoperation thereof; and

FIG. 5 is a side view of the folding bed shown in the bed formingposition.

The illustrated foldingbed includes a first and a second shallowbox-like bedsections l and 2 hinged one to the other at 3. The firstbox-like bedstead section 11 includes a front panel 4 of rectangularshape and board 15 fixed edgewise against the front panel 4 and extending lengthwise along the side edges and the outer edge thereof. A frontpanel section 6 is hinged at 7 to the inner end edge of the front panel1 and is arranged to form a writing table upon pivoting the samedownwardly where it is held in substantially horizontal position by apair of chains 8 in any wellknown manner. As can be seen in FIG. 1, thepanel section 6, in the inoperative position, abuts against boards 5 toform a continuous planar face with the front panel d to hide a mattress9 folded in half inside the box-like bedstead sections when the latterare in folded position, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3. The panel section6 is retained in closed position by hooks 10 or any other suitableexpedi'ent.

Similarly, the second box-like bedstead section 2 includes a rectangularrear panel and boards ll fixed edgewise against thereof and extendinglengthwise along the side edges and the other end edge thereof. Theboards H as well as the boards 5 form a threesided structure fixed tothe corresponding panel to form a shallow box-like structure therewith.The panels of the bedstead sections 1 and 2 are arranged to standupright endwise in spaced-apart relationship to enclose the mattress 9folded in half between them and the boards 5 and 11. Reinforcing members12 are fixed on the exterior face of the lateral boards 5 and ill andarranged to strengthen the hinge at 3 between the two' bedstead sections1 and 2. A plate 13 ,of appropriate size, is provided to close the upperend formed by the bedstead sections when in folded cabinetconfiguration, as in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3. A flap M is pivoted to one longedge of the cover plate 13 and arranged to conceal the upper edge of thefront panel section 6. The cover plate 13 is also arranged to form aheadboard to reproduce a continental bed, as illustrated in FlG. 5.

A first leg structure, or assemby 15, is provided to support the freeend of the first bedstead section 1. The first leg assembly includes apair of spaced-apart upright members or legs 16, of generally triangularshape, arranged parallel to each other and joined to each other by atransverse brace 17. The upright members 16 are pivoted to the outsideof the opposite lateral boards 5 respectively at points 18.

A second leg structure, or assembly 19, is provided to support the freeend of the second bedstead section 2. The second leg assembly includes apair of spacedapart upright members or legs 2tl,of generally rectangularshape, arranged parallel to each other, and joined to each other by atransverse brace, 'not' shown, and by a plate 21. The latter iselongated, extends lengthwise transversely relative to the bedsteadsections and forms a lateral extension which projects laterallyoutwardly from the upright members 20 and away relative to the first legassembly l5.

Castor wheels 22 are fixed underthe plate 2f adjacent the transverselyextending edge thereof which is closer to the first leg assembly 15 andare arranged for tilting of the second leg assembly l9 relative theretountil the abovementioned lateral extension of the plate 21 engages thefloor and thereby oppose further rolling of the second leg assemblytowards the wall, as shown in FllG. 4.

The second leg assembly is hinged to the lateral edge of the boards 11at a point 23 defining a pivot axis which is further away from saidfirst leg assembly than the tilting axis defined by the castor wheels22. The pivot axis of the second leg assembly 19 relative to the secondbedstead section 2 is spaced from the outer end edge of the latter andis arranged such that the upper Castor wheels 25 are fixed to theexterior face of the board 11 which, as above mentioned, extends alongthe free end edge of the rear panel. The castor wheels 25 are arrangedto roll against an adjacent wall when the folding bed is opened nearthereto and is arranged to support the second bedstead section when thelatter is in the upright position which corresponds to the cabinetconfiguration position.

To extend the bedstead sections into the bed configuration, as shown inFIG. 5, the cover plate 13 is first removed and the mattress 9 is pulledout from the enclosed space formed by the two bedstead sections. Thehook 26 or the like is then released and the free end of the bedsteadsection 1 is then lifted up and pulled outwardly away from the secondleg assembly 39. There results a tilting of the latter, as in FIG. 4,wherein the plate 21 engages the floor and restrains displacement of thesame towards the adjacent wall. The same tilting action is produced uponfolding the bed. lf'the free end of the second bedstead section 2 is tooclose to the wall, the castor wheels 25 will roll against the latter toprevent marring of the same. in the bed configuration, leg members 20remain upright because the wheels 22, which are offset relative to pivot23, tend to push the top edge of members 20 against the edge of board11. in folded bed configuration, leg members 2% remain upright becausethe top edge of members 20 abut the outer lower edge of boards 5 ofsection ii.

The rectangular plates of the bedstead sections finally form acontinuous flat surface onto which the mattress 9 is laid. Obviously,the latter must be sufficiently flexible to be bent transversely uponitself to be inserted into the structure formed by the sections 1 and 2arranged in the cabinet-like configuration.

I claim:

1. A folding bed comprising a head bedstead section and a foot bedsteadsection, each of rectangular shape and pivotally interconnected at theirinner ends about a transverse pivotal axis for pivotal movement betweenan extended bedstead configuration in which the two sections aresubstantially coplanar and horizontally disposed, and a folded storageconfiguration in which the two sections abut each other at their innerlongitudinal edges and are upright, said foot bedstead section beingshorter than said head bedstead section, whereby said head section hasan outer end portion protruding downwardly from the outer end of saidfoot section in the folded storage cnfiguration, a first pair of legmembers pivoted to the outer end of said foot bedstead section, a secondpair of leg members of generally rectangular shape and each pivoted atone corner to the inner edge of said head bedstead section at a pointclose to the outer end of said foot bedstead section when the bed is infolded storage configuration for pivotal movement of said head bedsteadsection relative to said sec- 0nd pair of leg members about a transverseaxis parallel to the pivotal axis of said two bedstead sections betweena position of said head bedstead section in which its inner edge abutsthe top edge of said second pair of leg members in the extended bedsteadconfiguration and a position of said head bedstead section in which itsinner edge abuts a longitudinal edge of said second pair of leg membersand the top edge of said second pair of leg members abut the outer endof said foot bedstead section in the folded bed configuration.

2. A folding bed as claimed in claim 1, further including a first set offloor engaging wheels carried by and protruding from the underside ofsaid second pair of leg members and offset relative to the axis ofpivotal connection of said second pair of leg members to said headsection in the direction of the non-pivoted top corner of said secondpair of leg members, so that the weight of said head bedstead section onsaid second pair of leg members causes tilting of said second pair ofleg members and a member projecting from said longitudinal edge of saidsecond pair of leg members and engageable with a floor surface in thetilted position of said second pair of leg members, to thereby restrainoutward displacement of said second pair of leg members on said fioorsurface.

3. A folding bed as claimed in claim 2, wherein said projecting memberis a plate member fixed to the lower edge of said second pair of legmembers and substantially parallel to the top edge of said second pairof leg members and underlying the outer end of said head bedsteadsection in the folded bed configuration and a second set of floorengaging wheels carried by and protruding from the outer end of saidhead bedstead section and cooperating with said first set of floorengaging wheels in the folded bed configuration to support the foldedbed in upright position, said first pair of leg members being wheelessto engage a floor surface without substantial slipping in the extendedbedstead configuration and termianting above a floor surface in thefolded bed configuration.

4. A folding bed as claimed in claim 1, wherein each bedstead sectionforms a shallow box structure including a panel of rectangular shapedefining an inner end edge and an outer end edge and a pair of oppositeside edges, boards extending along said opposite side edges and saidouter end edge and arranged at right angle to said panel, each of saidboards being of uniform width and forming a butt joint with the boardsof the other section in the folded bed configuration to form a boxopened at the top end and adapted to receive a folded mattress and acover removably closing the top of said box, said cover forming aheadboard when said sections are in extended bedstead configuration.

1. A folding bed comprising a head bedstead section and a foot bedsteadsection, each of rectangular shape and pivotally interconnected at theirinner ends about a transverse pivotal axis for pivotal movement betweenan extended bedstead configuration in which the two sections aresubstantially coplanar and horizontally disposed, and a folded storageconfiguration in which the two sections abut each other at their innerlongitudinal edges and are upright, said foot bedstead section beingshorter than said head bedstead section, whereby said head section hasan outer end portion protruding downwardly from the outer end of saidfoot section in the folded storage cnfiguration, a first pair of legmembers pivoted to the outer end of said foot bedstead section, a secondpair of leg members of generally rectangular shape and each pivoted atone corner to the inner edge of said head bedstead section at a pointclose to the outer end of said foot bedstead section when the bed is infolded storage configuration for pivotal movement of said head bedsteadsection relative to said second pair of leg members about a transverseaxis parallel to the pivotal axis of said two bedstead sections betweena position of said head bedstead section in which its inner edge abutsthe top edge of said second pair of leg members in the extended bedsteadconfiguration and a position of said head bedstead section in which itsinner edge abuts a longitudinal edge of said second pair of leg membersand the top edge of said second pair of leg members abut the outer endof said foot bedstead section in the folded bed configuration.
 2. Afolding bed as claimed in claim 1, further including a first set offloor engaging wheels carried by and protruding from the underside ofsaid second pair of leg members and offset relative to the axis ofpivotal connection of said second pair of leg members to said headsection in the direction of the non-pivoted top corner of said secondpair of leg members, so that the weight of said head bedstead section onsaid second pair of leg members causes tilting of said second pair ofleg members and a member projecting from said longitudinal edge of saidsecond pair of leg members and engageable with a floor surface in thetilted position of said second pair of leg members, to thereby restrainoutward displacement of said second pair of leg members on said floorsurface.
 3. A folding bed as claimed in claim 2, wherein said projectingmember is a plate member fixed to the lower edge of said Second pair ofleg members and substantially parallel to the top edge of said secondpair of leg members and underlying the outer end of said head bedsteadsection in the folded bed configuration and a second set of floorengaging wheels carried by and protruding from the outer end of saidhead bedstead section and cooperating with said first set of floorengaging wheels in the folded bed configuration to support the foldedbed in upright position, said first pair of leg members being wheelessto engage a floor surface without substantial slipping in the extendedbedstead configuration and termianting above a floor surface in thefolded bed configuration.
 4. A folding bed as claimed in claim 1,wherein each bedstead section forms a shallow box structure including apanel of rectangular shape defining an inner end edge and an outer endedge and a pair of opposite side edges, boards extending along saidopposite side edges and said outer end edge and arranged at right angleto said panel, each of said boards being of uniform width and forming abutt joint with the boards of the other section in the folded bedconfiguration to form a box opened at the top end and adapted to receivea folded mattress and a cover removably closing the top of said box,said cover forming a headboard when said sections are in extendedbedstead configuration.